Approaches to Computed Tomography Education for Radiography Students

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging Education
• Radiography Training
• Computed Tomography

Background:

• Diagnostic radiography students receive computed tomography (CT) education during university coursework and clinical placements.
• Enhancing CT education within university curricula is essential for effective training.
• This review explores current CT teaching methods and assessment strategies for radiography students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the published literature on computed tomography (CT) teaching methods.
• To investigate assessment strategies for diagnostic radiography students in CT education.
• To inform the enhancement of CT education in university curricula.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of articles published in English from 2015-2025.
• Searches conducted in Medline, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases.
• Data extracted from 13 studies, summarized into themes of CT education methods, evaluation, and student assessment.

Main Results:

• CT education predominantly occurs on-campus, with limited inclusion of clinical placements.
• Tutorial-based approaches, CT scanners (direct/remote access), and virtual reality are common teaching methods.
• Evaluation focuses on student knowledge and experience; assessment typically involves pre-post quizzes and reflective blogs.

Conclusions:

• On-campus CT education enhances student knowledge, while clinical education is crucial for skill acquisition.
• Guided learning during on-campus education boosts student knowledge and confidence.
• Further investigation is required into CT education in clinical/academic settings and pre-graduation competency achievement.